Thanks to our intern BORIS for cutting together another great BEST OF episode. Today we feature clips from the following episodes:

88 | Alex Kurtzman & Jenny Lumet: Why Destabilization Is Essential For Your Writing

86 | Dr. Strange 2 Writer Michael Waldron On Emotionally Authentic Writing

90 | Finding The Thematic ?Thesis Statement? Of Your Script w/ Maggie Cohn

78 | Character Poles: A Simple but POWERFUL Way To Shape Your Characters

85 | Getting To The Heart Of Your Story w/ Pat Verducci

76 | How To GIVE Great Notes On Writing

75 | Finding Your Brand as a Writer w/ Manager Alison Mann

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Enjoy our final panel coverage from our time at the SLO film festival!

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Many writer/directors have gotten their starts with short films. Today we discuss what makes a great short, and how they can help (and not help) advance your career as a writer!

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Another WONDERFUL story workshop from Meg + Lorien. 

To see Jeff's film in CLEVELAND on 7/6 @ 7:30pm, buy tickets here: https://omniwebticketing6.com/cleveland/cedarlee/?schdate=2022-07-06&perfix=131376

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David F.M. Vaughn, award-winning actor, director, composer, and writer, is obsessed with getting detailed about the behind-the-scenes aspects of this sometimes very mysterious business. Having just come off of his first staffing gig, David has TONS of insight about what a writers room REALLY looks, and how we can prepare for them. 

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Writing can feel like a never ending grind, but we of course need to find the space to take a vacation. Today we talk about how and WHY it's essential to our process.

TO LEAVE AN APPLE PODCAST REVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAG8mgrVQys

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Maggie Cohn and her co-showrunner Antonio Campos knew that in adapting one of the most popular documentaries of all time (The Staircase), they had to have their own fresh take. And in finding this, Maggie discovered that she uncovered a unifying ?thesis statement? to keep her story and emotional thematic on rails as they wrote. It?s a fascinating conversation, and we hope you enjoy it!

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For Joey Tucccio, the founder of Roadmap Writers, "you're a human first, and a writer second." Excelling at your craft has as much to do with your understanding of yourself as it does with your writing, and Joey goes DEEP on all of that, today!

FOR MORE ON ROADMAP WRITERS: https://www.roadmapwriters.com/

TO SEE JEFF'S MOVIE: Click the link below and look for Block EEEE (The movie is called, ALWAYS, LOLA)

https://marinadelreyfilmfestival.ticketspice.com/2022-marina-del-rey-film-festival

DATE: Wednesday, June 22, 7:30PM ? 9:00PM PDT

ADDRESS: Cinemark 18 and XD 

6081 Center Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90045

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Both Jenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman are giants in our industry, and yet, they?re the FIRST to admit that every project is a brand new journey filled with excitement, fear, beauty, panic, and a profound sense of mystery. Find out how and why their new show The Man Who Fell To Earth was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their career in today?s show!

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Despite having written for multiple scripted series, SNL, and now Showrunning her own animated series, the essence of good writing remains simple for Anna Drezen: "Write about what you're obsessed with."

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Whether it's a gritty wrestling drama like Heels, an animated satire like Rick and Morty, or a blockbuster romp through multi universes like Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Michael Waldron knows that emotionally honest storytelling is always central to a successful story. Today we unpack how to zero in on the emotional truth of your story. 

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Pat Verducci is a celebrated writing coach, story analyst, and produced writer/director, but at her most basic, Pat wants to help every writer planet earth getting closer to the story their heart wants to tell. Today, she walks through how YOU can do the same thing, and become your own writing coach as you unpack your story.

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Thinking is an essential part of the creative process, but at a certain point, we just have to WRITE. Have you been over thinking? How to leave a review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_xz5XbWQTg Come see us in San Luis Obispo: https://slofilmfest.org/ The Goddess of Brokenness: http://www.sutrajournal.com/akhilandeshwari-the-power-of-brokenness-by-laura-amazzone Join Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thescreenwritinglife/support

Today we are ENORMOUSLY lucky to be joined by the insanely accomplished writer, director, fellowship export Lisanne Sartor, who in some ways, is the godmother of our podcast. She breaks down EVERYTHING we need to know about the process - the good, the bad, and the ugly, and how you can use opportunities to best propel YOUR career.

Interested in an internship? Email us at: [email protected]

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Actress, playwright, professor, intern, story manager, showrunner. Despite Lorien's multifaceted career, one theme has unified every role she's taken on: storytelling. What did Lorien do when her MFA professor she didn't have what it takes? She doubled down. More on that in the show...

Follow Quincey's Diabetes Journey Here!: https://www.youtube.com/c/Diabetes101

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What is the most common note writers get? It almost ALWAYS relates to character "wants." Today, Meg and Lorien breakdown why character wants matter more than almost anything, how to incorporate them into your work, and why they'll help propel your story all to fade out. 

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Hey TSL Family! Lorien is BACK, and as you can imagine, our team had a lot to catch up on. As our conversation evolved, it seems the writing Gods were all pointing us toward the same thing: how to take care our writer selves when we're feeling overwhelmed. I (and so many in the Facebook group) feel grateful that Lorien has let us into the struggles of a brand new chapter in her life - more on that in the show - but truthfully, all three of us have been dealing with some serious lava lately. But within those discussions, we already realized that we have been discovering ways to work through it. Those methods have been helpful for us, and we hope they're helpful for you too. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thescreenwritinglife/support

In today's very special episode, we interview one of Hollywood's most interesting, dynamic, and all around WONDERFUL industry veterans...Meg LeFauve!! And a VERY special guest joins in the fun...

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We've mentioned it many times on the show, so it's time we finally dive in; what exactly are character poles? Today is a masterclass from Meg, who dives into what she means when she says "character poles," how we can identify the concept using classics examples in staple films, and how we can apply it to our own work.

Also, Jeff went on an unhealthy tear about his Olympics obsession. To see the photos he referenced:

Nick Baumgartner and Omar Visintin:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u4YJjZlRplIObHub1dTysmWqEzWQNQHU/view?usp=sharing

Beijing's Big Air Hill: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hsK1vxqOsHYvlUDMndRlA_w9PxUVLorb/view?usp=sharing

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Writers always have tons of questions when it comes to representation - and who better to answer them than...Meg's manager! Charlie Gogolak has thrived in this business for decades, both as a manager and producer, and today, we ask the questions that both emerging and professional writers are dying to know.

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Being a successful creative is all about give and take, and ANYONE who?s gotten feedback knows that paying it forward is an essential part of finding success in this business. But HOW do we give great notes? We dive into it today!

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Whether or not we want to admit it, being seen and getting staffed is easier if we can tell others WHO we are as writers. Industry powerhouse Alison Mann believes this so strongly that she has her clients create "brand decks" when she pitches them for jobs. And for Alison, it's just as much for their potential partners as it is for her clients themselves.

After a long and impressive career working as a studio executive in animation,  Alison Mann now works as the Talent Manager and Co-President of Fourth Wall Animation at Fourth Wall Management

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There are few jobs more mentally strenuous than that of a writer. Rejection. Writers block. Notes. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. 

But today, bestselling author and thought leader Dr. Kristin Neff - renowned for her decades of research - is here to teach us about the beauty and the POWER of self-compassion. It will fundamentally shift the way you see you execute your creative life!

PURCHASE KRISTIN'S BOOKS: https://self-compassion.org/store/

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Hi All! We're BACK with another greatest hits episode featuring some of our industry's best television writers. Today, you'll hear from:

TSL TV Writers - best of

Javier Grillo-Marxuach (ep 46)

Sam Bain (ep 62)

Marti Noxon (ep 40)

Shantira Jackson and Dewayne Perkins (ep 69)

Sean Presant (ep 61)

Stacy Rukeyser (ep 60)

THANK YOU to Jess Fisher who put this episode together.

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Happy Holidays TSL Fam!!!

In this greatest hits episode, we provide insight from some of our sharpest guests to help YOU create the most interesting, compelling, and ACTIVE characters you can. Today's show features insights from:

Mike Jones Ed Solomon Sheila Hanahan Taylor Javier Grillo-Marxuach Stacy Rukeyser Nicole Perlman Sam Bain

Enjoy!

As always, thank you to Jess Fisher who put this episode together!

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Today we feature of two of Hollywood?s most exciting up-and-comers, Caitlin Vukorpa and Zoe Cheng, who both have experience in writer?s rooms and agencies to answer all of the questions you?ve ever wondered about that path. Is it possible to do both? Will the experience help you in your career? Stay tuned to find out!

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Stephen Karam is the Tony Award-winning author of The Humans, Sons of the Prophet and Speech & Debate. For his work he?s received two Drama Critics Circle Awards, an OBIE Award and is a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist. Stephen recently directed his first feature film, a rethought version of The Humans for A24 films, to be released in 2021.  He wrote a film adaptation of Chekhov?s The Seagull starring Annette Bening, which was released by Sony Picture Classics. His adaptation of Chekhov?s The Cherry Orchard premiered on Broadway as part of Roundabout?s 2016 season. Recent honors include the inaugural Horton Foote Playwriting Award, the inaugural Sam Norkin Drama Desk Award, two Outer Critics Circle Awards, a Lucille Lortel Award, Drama League Award,  and Hull-Warriner Award. 
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Emmy-nominated writers Shantira Jackson and Dewayne Perkins are some of comedy's most exciting rising voices, but their journey hasn't been a short one. From sketch shows in the middle of Idaho to writing for the WGA awards, Shantira and Dewayne break down their journey and offer incredible advice. 

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Beyond craft, one of the most important aspects of building your career is developing emotional agility to really excel through the rejection and feedback that accompanies the creative journey. Today we hear from some of our amazing guests to hear how THEY have navigated through the process. Enjoy!

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Putting a project in the desk drawer to start something new can feel like a betrayal, but sometimes it's the right step. How can we elegantly move on, but still stay loyal to our beautiful calling? We discuss it today!

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Monique N. Matthews is many things - a producer, a respected screenwriting professor, a social justice advocate, but mostly, she's a brilliant writer. Dive down the rabbit hole with Monique today, AND make sure to catch her feature "A Holiday In Harlem" TODAY (Sun, Nov 14) on Hallmark!!

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One of the most frequent discussions in our business is the discussion around achieving a work/life balance. Things get personal as Meg, Lorien, and Jeff share their own complicated relationships with this conversation, and how can we stay MINDFUL of the big picture as we pursue our work.

OUR FIRST PATREON WORKSHOP IS WED, NOV 17! Sign up here!: https://www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife 

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Among many astounding achievements, Nicole Perlman wrote the first Guardians Of The Galaxy film, which many culture critics (and fans) consider to be one of the best franchises in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That film is lauded for it's uniquely irreverent tone and engaging characters, and Nicole offers MANY strategies to get our own writing there.

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WE DID IT.

Join Meg and Lorien, and their wonderful audience, as they workshop with three very brave and brilliant writers to get to the core of their story in from the Historic Sanctuary of St. David's Episcopal Church at the 2021 Austin Film Festival for our very first live, in-person show.

TO JOIN OUR PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/TheScreenwritingLife

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Sam Bain is one of our industry?s premiere comedy writers, having co-created multiple beloved sitcoms including the UK?s cult hit Peep Show. But today Sam reveals that the most important ingredients for comedy are truth and pain. Buckle up! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thescreenwritinglife/support

Longtime TV vet Sean Presant has an eclectic resume includes features, shorts, and TV in ALL genres from multi-cam sitcoms, to reality competition, to prestige crime shows. So how has Sean managed such an impressively wide variety of work? Is it really possible for us to "pull that off?" Sean talks about the signature themes in our work, how they inform our voice, and how we can discover it ourselves!

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If anyone knows her way around a writer's room, it's producer Stacy Rukeyser, who has worked at every level from staff writer, to creator/showrunner. Stacy has a fascinating perspective on how the culture of a TV writer's room has both remained steady and changed wildly in her nearly 25 years in the business. Buckle up!

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Every writer inevitably faces this painful question somewhere along their journey: "why the hell am I doing this?" Today, we answer that question.

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Enjoy the LIVE conversation from the MCX Screenmaker's Conference! 

For its seventh edition, the national MCX Screenmakers Conference program of panel sessions, case studies, in focus presentations and insightful conversations will be held online over two jam-packed days on 10 and 11 September, making it accessible to delegates from across the country.

The impressive line-up of national and international industry speakers and presenters include LA based screenwriters and producers Lorien McKenna and Meg Lefauve from The Screenwriting Life podcast, a trip through storytelling and activism with Benjamin Law and Michelle Law, and we?re especially thrilled to host an in-conversation with the co-founders of Hoodlum Entertainment, tracing their journey from producing online show Fat Cow Motel in 1999, to being one of Australia?s most successful production companies producing content for the global marketplace to having an office at the Walt Disney studios in Hollywood.

Program highlights include creative sessions such as the exploration of the ?dark art of development?, craft sessions on narrative writing for games, a case study of the ABC hit TV series Aftertaste with the team from Closer Productions, and business sessions including how to maximise the monetisation of your intellectual property.

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All great works of art start with ideas, and ideas STILL reign supreme in Hollywood. In today's conversation w/ celebrated writer Matt Lieberman we discuss how to generate high concept ideas, come up with ideas, embrace the importance of a good idea, and even sell feature specs. 

Once again, we want to say thanks to our fabulous intern Jess Fisher for helping us put this episode together!

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We've had some AMAZING guests on this show, but the truth is, one of our greatest secret weapons is Meg herself! Today, she dives into some of the MANY lingering questions that you all have been posing on the Facebook, and we get into it! If your question wasn't answered today, don't worry, Meg WILL be getting into soon.

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Most of us assume that once a writer sells that spec or books that job or secures representation, they've "made it." Now all they need to do is ride into the sunset and remember to thank their agent when their inevitable Oscar shows up. But of course, much like writer, it's much more complicated than that. Today, Meg and Lorien walk us through THEIR biggest "a-ha" moments after their breaks, what we should lean into, and what we should avoid. Once again, we'd like to thank JESS FISHER who produced this episode while Jeff is getting his feet back on the ground!

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We're back! Meg, Lorien, and Jeff have all been traveling, producing, and on set, and oh, do we have UPDATES. Lorien - who is now entering post on the project she SHOWRAN - answers all of your questions from what kinds of writers she's looking for in the room, and what her expectations for them are once they arrive. 

THANK YOU to our intern Jess Fisher for producing and cutting this episode! You've been a rock for us in some of our busiest times. 

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FOR MORE CREATE OUT LOUD: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/create-out-loud-with-jennifer-louden/id1559415253

What would it take for you to turn down an offer from JJ Abrams (you know the guy who created Lost among other block-busters)? Ask Meg LeFavue, the Oscar-nominated writer of Inside Out, who had to do just that after committing to her creative calling to become a screenwriter. Meg LeFauve and her frequent writing partner and podcast co-host Lorien McKenna get extremely candid about the challenges and essential importance of committing to your artistic path and sticking with it.

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Writing isn't just about craft and science. It's about translating the highs and lows of being a human being into art, and that journey can be a roller coaster, whether you're an emerging writer or a seasoned pro.

Speaking of seasoned pros, today, we ask them those tricky questions: what brings you the most joy about writing, what pisses you off about writing, and what scene do you want to be remembered by. 

The guests, in order of appearance: 

John August - Episode 35 Andrew Stanton - Episode 39 Marti Noxon - Episode 40 Sheila Hanahan-Taylor - Episode 43 Javier Grillo-Marxuach - Episode 46 Michael Arndt - Episode 49 Vanessa Taylor - Episode 51 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thescreenwritinglife/support

Not only is Oscar-nominated writer Vanessa Taylor's resume impressive, it's beautifully varied. Vanessa has written on serialized network TV shows, high-concept prestige premium cable dramas (GOT anybody??), a YA novel adaptation, and even a creature feature love story w/ celebrated filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro (yes, we are talking about The Shape of Water.) But Vanessa sees powerful themes that tie her work together like a commitment to propulsive story engines driven by high-agency characters who tell us WHO they are, through their behavior. Vanessa offers us BEAUTIFUL advice in today's episode, and we can't wait for you to hear it! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thescreenwritinglife/support

50 Episodes! How did we get here? Hard work EVERY DAY.

Today, we're focusing on the day-to-day, minute-by-minute process of writing. How to we title our documents? How do we comb through our material? How do we edit. All of that gets answered today!

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Little Miss Sunshine's script, penned by our guest Michael Arndt, won almost every major industry award, and for good reason. Its warmth, humor, and surefooted commitment to its themes makes it one of the finest scripts written this century. And SO many of those themes show up in Act 1. Michael has become a bit "obsessed" with act 1's lately, because it's our chance to maximize the "rooting interest" around our hero so that our audience has no choice but to keep watching.  FOR MICHAEL'S (AMAZING) WEBSITE: https://www.pandemoniuminc.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thescreenwritinglife/support

To enter contests, or NOT to enter contests? Do I need to live in LA? What if I'm not your run-of-the mill white dude writer? What if I'm OLDER than my competition? All of these questions are answers, no-holds-barred, in today's episode where we take YOUR questions.

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It's a GREATEST HITS Episode. We've had such amazing guests, that we wanted to curate some of their best moments. Enjoy!

1:20 - John August on Important Rules For Worldbuildling (Ep 35)

6:09 - Marti Noxon on Writing Samples That Will Get You Staffed (Ep 40)

9:05 - Sheila Hanahan Taylor On Rookie Mistakes (Ep 42/43)

17:33 - Kemp Powers on When To ?Break The Rules? in Your Writing (Ep 36)

20:15 - Andrew Stanton On The Differences Between Storytelling and Writing (Ep 39)

25:31 - Ed Solomon On The Essential Value Of Rewriting (Ep 32)

31:12 - Mike Jones On Overcoming Stage Fright During Pitches (Ep 25)

34:24 - Kemp Powers On Dealing With Bigotry and Racism in Hollywood (Ep 36)

41:12 - Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn On What Makes Great Writing (Ep 23)

Thank you to Jess Fisher for putting this episode together!

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